Bobby Lutz
Encyclopedia
Bobby Lutz is an American
men's college basketball
coach. He is currently an assistant coach at North Carolina State University
under head coach Mark Gottfried
. Lutz was head coach of the Charlotte 49ers basketball team
from 1998 to 2010.
in Catawba, N.C.
in 1976 and from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
in 1980 with a B.A.
in Psychology and Economics. He taught social studies and coached basketball at several high schools in North Carolina
. In 1984 he received a job as a graduate assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Clemson University
. Prior to the 1986-1987 season he was named head coach at Pfeiffer College
in Misenheimer, N.C.
He led the Falcons to a 181-91 record in his nine years as their coach, including one berth in the NAIA
championship game.
, but resigned two weeks after accepting the job in order to become an assistant coach at his alma mater under head coach Jeff Mullins. He served as an assistant under Mullins (1995–96) and his successor, Melvin Watkins
(1996–98). When Watkins accepted the head coaching job at Texas A&M University
, Lutz was promoted and became the eighth head coach of the Charlotte 49ers on April 9, 1998.
The 49ers enjoyed consistent success during Lutz's tenure, reaching the NCAA Tournament
five times (1999
, 2001
, 2002
, 2004
, and 2005
), plus three appearances in the NIT
(2000, 2006, and 2008). In 2005 Lutz was a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award.
On February 23, 2008, Charlotte won at home over Saint Louis
81-64, giving Lutz 183 wins at Charlotte and the all-time mark for wins by a 49ers coach, passing Mullins' 182 wins accumulated between 1985 and 1996.
On March 15, 2010, Lutz was fired by UNC Charlotte. He compiled a 218–158 record at UNC Charlotte, and is the school's winningest men's basketball coach. He then spent a season as an assistant coach with the Iowa State Cyclones
under head coach Fred Hoiberg
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
men's college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
coach. He is currently an assistant coach at North Carolina State University
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member....
under head coach Mark Gottfried
Mark Gottfried
Mark Frederick Gottfried is an American men's college basketball coach and former player. He was named head coach of NC State on April 5, 2011....
. Lutz was head coach of the Charlotte 49ers basketball team
Charlotte 49ers men's basketball
The Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team represents UNC Charlotte in the Atlantic 10 Conference.-Coaches:-Coaching staff:-Professional Players:The following Charlotte basketball players appeared in at least one game in the NBA:*Cedric Ball...
from 1998 to 2010.
Early career
Lutz graduated from Bandys High SchoolBandys High School
Bandys High School is a public, coeducational high school located in Catawba, North Carolina, United States. It is one of five high schools in the Catawba County Schools system and one of 27 system-wide.-Purpose:...
in Catawba, N.C.
Catawba, North Carolina
Catawba is a town in Catawba County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 604 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in 1976 and from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
The University of North Carolina at Charlotte , also known as UNC Charlotte or simply Charlotte, is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States...
in 1980 with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Psychology and Economics. He taught social studies and coached basketball at several high schools in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. In 1984 he received a job as a graduate assistant coach for the men's basketball team at Clemson University
Clemson University
Clemson University is an American public, coeducational, land-grant, sea-grant, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, United States....
. Prior to the 1986-1987 season he was named head coach at Pfeiffer College
Pfeiffer University
Pfeiffer University is a private university located in the village of Misenheimer near Richfield, North Carolina.- History :Pfeiffer originated from a home school operated by Miss Emily Prudden in the late 19th century...
in Misenheimer, N.C.
Misenheimer, North Carolina
Misenheimer, is an incorporated village in Stanly County, North Carolina. It is in the southern Piedmont region of North Carolina, near the city of Richfield....
He led the Falcons to a 181-91 record in his nine years as their coach, including one berth in the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
championship game.
Charlotte
In 1995 Lutz was named the head coach at Gardner-Webb UniversityGardner-Webb University
Gardner–Webb University is a private university located west of Charlotte in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, USA. The school has a total of 14 academic departments offering 45 major fields of study. Among the most popular of the school's 39 undergraduate majors are those in business , education ,...
, but resigned two weeks after accepting the job in order to become an assistant coach at his alma mater under head coach Jeff Mullins. He served as an assistant under Mullins (1995–96) and his successor, Melvin Watkins
Melvin Watkins
Melvin Lenzo Watkins is an American college basketball coach and former player. He is an assistant coach under Mike Anderson at the University of Arkansas. He has also been the associate head coach at the University of Missouri...
(1996–98). When Watkins accepted the head coaching job at Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
, Lutz was promoted and became the eighth head coach of the Charlotte 49ers on April 9, 1998.
The 49ers enjoyed consistent success during Lutz's tenure, reaching the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
five times (1999
1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1999, and ended with the championship game on March 29 at Tropicana Field in St....
, 2001
2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 2001 with the play-in game, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in...
, 2002
2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 2002, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Atlanta, Georgia...
, 2004
2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2004, and ended with the championship game on April 5 at the Alamodome in San Antonio,...
, and 2005
2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 2005, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St...
), plus three appearances in the NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
(2000, 2006, and 2008). In 2005 Lutz was a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award.
On February 23, 2008, Charlotte won at home over Saint Louis
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
81-64, giving Lutz 183 wins at Charlotte and the all-time mark for wins by a 49ers coach, passing Mullins' 182 wins accumulated between 1985 and 1996.
On March 15, 2010, Lutz was fired by UNC Charlotte. He compiled a 218–158 record at UNC Charlotte, and is the school's winningest men's basketball coach. He then spent a season as an assistant coach with the Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball
The Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team represents Iowa State University and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.-Johnny Orr era :...
under head coach Fred Hoiberg
Fred Hoiberg
Fredrick Kristian Hoiberg is the head men's basketball coach at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he grew up and had played college basketball...
.
Coaching Tree
- Benny MossBenny MossBenny Moss is a former American basketball player and the former men's basketball coach at UNC Wilmington....
, head coach at UNC WilmingtonUniversity of North Carolina at WilmingtonThe University of North Carolina at Wilmington, sometimes referred to as UNC Wilmington, is a public, co-educational university located in Wilmington, North Carolina...
, 2006–2010- assistant coach under Lutz at Pfeiffer (1993–1995) and Charlotte (2001–2006)
- Kevin NickelberryKevin NickelberryKevin Nickelberry is an American college basketball coach and current head men's basketball coach at Howard University, named to the position on April 25, 2010. He had previously been head coach at Hampton University....
, head coach at Howard UniversityHoward UniversityHoward University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
, 2010–present, and Hampton UniversityHampton UniversityHampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
, 2006–2009- assistant coach under Lutz at Charlotte (1999–2002)
- Orlando EarlyOrlando EarlyOrlando Early is an American men's college basketball coach. He is currently an assistant coach at North Carolina State University under head coach Mark Gottfried....
, head coach at University of Louisiana at MonroeUniversity of Louisiana at MonroeThe University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
, 2005–2010- assistant coach under Lutz at Charlotte (1998–2001)